The CDC National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention provides the following information as a public service only. Providing synopses of key scientific articles and lay media reports on HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases and tuberculosis does not constitute CDC endorsement. This daily update also includes information from CDC and other government agencies, such as background on Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) articles, fact sheets, press releases, and announcements. Reproduction of this text is encouraged; however, copies may not be sold, and the CDC HIV/STD/TB Prevention News Update should be cited as the source of the information. Contact the sources of the articles abstracted below for full texts of the articles.
American Journal of Public Health (12/99) Vol. 89, No. 12, P.
1883; DiLiberti, John H.; Jackson, Cynthia R.
Researchers studying long-term trends in U.S. childhood
infectious disease mortality rates (CIDMR) found that although
CIDMR dropped nearly 200-fold between 1861 and 1996, little
change was seen in the last 10 years of the study. Between 1979
and 1995, fatal respiratory and central nervous infections fell
sharply, but deaths from AIDS and other immune conditions rose
after 1984. Most of the adult mortality was attributed to
pneumonia or septicemia. A record low in childhood mortality
rates was reached in 1993. According to the authors, from the
University of Illinois College of Medicine and the Children's
Hospital of Illinois, the varicella vaccine is still too new to
have affected mortality rates and the Haemophilus influenzae B
vaccine was developed long after the number of central nervous
system deaths started to fall. The number of deaths from HIV
after 1984 form a small proportion of the total rate, although
removal of this factor from the analysis does cause a small
yearly rate of decline in CIDMR. A CIDMR plateau reached
starting in 1986 may be significant, but the mortality trends
need further study to determine this, the researchers said.
"Conservative Study Rips State Sex Ed Program"
Boston Herald Online (12/29/99); Wedge, Dave
A new report in the conservative publication Massachusetts News,
a free monthly, accuses the state of promoting teenage sex. The
study, which asked 600 individuals about their opinions on
teenage sex, reports that more than 90 percent of Massachusetts
residents oppose schools encouraging teens to have sex; however,
the participants were not asked whether they approve of sex
education in schools. The study also denounced condom
distribution in schools and the lack of abstinence education in
schools. According to Planned Parenthood's Michelle Ringuette,
the study is "irresponsible" and "very misleading." She notes
that abstinence is taught, although birth control and condom use
are also discussed so teens can learn to make healthy decisions.
Ringuette points out that a recent study from the Sexuality
Information and Education Council of the United States found that
93 percent of Americans support sex education in school, adding
that sexuality should not be ignored among teens who are already
having sex.
"Sex Ed Allegedly Overlooked in Schools"
MSNBC Online (12/28/99)
In California, sex education is being overlooked in schools,
according to a survey funded by the California Wellness
Foundation. The survey evaluated statewide curricula and found a
lack of information about reproductive health and sexually
transmitted diseases. Gary Yates, president of the California
Wellness Foundation, stated that a new bill sets standards for
public schools to teach sex education next year. About 87
percent of the state's school districts offer sex education, but
it is often outdated or wrong, the survey found. Teachers placed
the most emphasis on abstinence in their curriculum, and many
reported that school or district policies prevent them from
teaching about contraception or intercourse. Monica Rodriguez of
the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United
States asserted that too many young people are being denied
comprehensive sex education, which she said should focus on
"human development, relationships, sexual health, sexual behavior
and personal skill development, and should cover all topics from
abstinence through contraception and sexually transmitted
diseases."
Reuters Health Information Services (12/28/99)
A report in the December 3rd issue of AIDS (1999;13:2459-2468,
2477-2478) reveals that socio-economically disadvantaged women
have high rates of lifetime adversities, which make HIV
prevention and treatment difficult. Dr. Jan Moore of the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention and colleagues interviewed 871
HIV-infected women and 439 uninfected but at-risk women from four
major U.S. cities. Adverse life events were defined as a
physical attack or rape, death of a loved one, or lack of money
for necessities. The researchers found that adverse events were
correlated with low economic status, risky sexual behavior, and
intravenous drug use.
New Zealand Press Online (12/28/99)
In New Zealand, rates of whooping cough, meningococcal disease,
and tuberculosis have risen this year, in large part because of
immigration and low immunization rates. The Health Ministry's
Lynne Lane noted that rates were high in areas like Auckland, and
that children were being hospitalized with preventable diseases.
The rates for meningococcal disease are serious because of the
dangerous nature of the disease, particularly in small children.
According to data through October 31, there were 374 reported
cases of tuberculosis this year, up from 297 at the same time in
1998; 650 cases of whooping cough, up from 118; and 431
meningococcal disease cases, up from 375 in the previous year.
Reuters Health Information Services (12/28/99)
A new study from researchers at the University of California at
San Francisco, suggests that bacterial resistance to
trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole has increased significantly since
1986, especially among HIV-infected individuals. According to
the researchers, the prevalence of resistance among
Staphylococcus aureus and Enterobacteriaceae genera isolates was
under 5.5 percent between 1979 and 1986; however, it soared to
20.4 percent by 1995. Resistance to
trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole among HIV patients was 6.3 percent
in 1988 and 53 percent by 1995. The researchers, who report
their findings in the December issue of the Journal of Infectious
Diseases (1999;180:1809-1818), believe that increased use of the
antibiotics caused more resistance.
Edmonton Sun Online (12/28/99) P. 14; McDougall, Ian
Edmonton is one of several Canadian cities that has seen a sharp
increase in the number of teenagers and young adults who are
smoking heroin. More young people are entering addiction centers
to quit heroin, which is much cheaper than 10 years ago, now
costing about C$200 a gram versus about C$900 a gram a decade
ago. The trend is to smoke heroin instead of injecting it, in
part because of the belief by some that by smoking the drug, they
will not become addicted.